The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1887-02-05
A DUEL WITH RIFLES.
Omaha Herald.

Omaha Herald.
1.-THE killing of Yellow Hand by
Buffalo Bill was the prettiest duel l
ever saw in my life," said an army
officer to reporter for the Herald.
~ was stationed at Fort Laramie.
In 1879, l think in the month OF
July, we received a courier telegram
that young Sitting Bull had left the
Red Cloud agency, which was seven
4y miles from us, with 800 warriors.
The Indians we're troublesome at
that time, and the Custer massacre
occurred shortly after. The cour-
tier conveyed the information that
young Sitting Bull had left to join
old Sitting Bull, who was supposed
to be somewhere in Montana. We
ut once started out TO intercept
young Bull and his bucks. The
night we reached Rawhide Creek, a
scout came in with the report that
Yellow Hand, chief Of the Chey-
ennes, had also left the agency with
about 800 warriors. Several COM
oanies were detached to intercept
him, and made their way to Hat
Creek at the base of the Black
Hills. Moving up Indian Creek we
came upon a plateau. There were
clouds of Indians away ahead in
the dim distance. One of our off,
GERS predicted that we would all be
killed. There were five companies
of infantry and one of cavalry in
our detachment. The cavalry made
a detour and came ahead Of the
train in line Of battle, while the
mule whackers were ordered in the
wagons of the train. All this took
time and the Indians drew nearer.
They finally stopped, and from one
end of their hosts rode out in front
of the line magnificently equipped
and very guadily decorated Indian,
in full war bonnet trailing behind
looking the ideal warrior. 1t was
Yellow Hand, the Cheyenne Chief
He proudly and fearlessly sat upon
his steed. Deliberately, after ne
stopped his horse, the Indian chief
tain raised his repeating rifle and
fred into or line. By this time
Buffalo Bill, who was a govern
ment scout at that time, had start
ed out from our lines and rode OBJ
liquel1 out and along our front to-
wards Yellow Hand, with his rifle
to his shoulder ali the time.
Troops ana Indians watched with
the deepest interest the outcome OF
the fight, for it meant duel to the
death. Yellow Hand began shoot
ing rapidly, Buffalo Bill fred with
more elaboration. The two men
began circling around and drawing
nearer, all the time moving rapidly
and firing their repeating rifles. |
think Yellow Hand fred about
twenty shots and Buffalo Bill about
ten in all. When within about $50
wards of one another Buffalo Bill
caught him-over went the horse
and Yellow Hand-shot through
the thighs. Buffalo Bill dismount-
ed, took Yellow Hands scalp and
war bonnet and came back to the
lines. Yes, the one shot penetrated
the chiefs upper legs and the
horses body. Was he dead when
Buffalo Bill reached him? You
are to inquisitive. Think the bull
let severed an artery In MS legs.
Well if you must know, it was the
scalping knife that finished the
Cheyenne chief. After the duel
was over the Cheyennes hastily
turned and started back, scattering
their provisions on the way, and for
miles on the return to the agency
we followed them by the trail Of
-four. Troops, you know, move
more slowly than the active war
riore. The little creek which was
the scene of the fight is in Wyom-
ing. 1t was then called Indian
Creek. Now the little stream is
known by the name of War Bon
net Greek.